The Arizona sentinel., 1887-02-26
CHAMOIS HUNTING.

A Huntsman'S Thrilling AdTenture-De-
 scriptiou and Habits of the Beautiful
 Little Animal.
 "Perhaps the most difficult hunting in all Europe" said friend, ''is ex- perienced in following the chamois. They have been chased from time inn memorial, and now are to be found only on the most precipitOus cliffs, where only those can venture who are educated up to it from youth. Some years ago spent a winter in the heart of the Alpine country, and made up my mind that I would have a chamois (pronounced sham-wah) head to deco rate my study. 1 gotit, and also nearly left my bones in the Alps, and wouldn't undertake the trip again for any inducement.
 'I secured a guide, said 'tO be the best in the country for that sport, and one beautiful morning we started out, ready for three days tramp, I carry ing only my light rifle. My guide said he had seen buck several days before ; on cliff that encircled a mountain about ten miles away, and toward this spot we started, and by four inf the afternoon we were well up the mount ain. So rough was the country and climbing. that we tied ourselves to- gether by long rope, and IfOnnd that, even though carrying the traps, my guide could still help me along occa- sionally.
 Finally we reached a spot where we could see the cliffs. It was a sheer wall of rock three thousand feet high, without a sign of a place where foot hold could be gained, and utterly un- approachable to my inexperienced eyes. While we were resting, my companion took out his glass, and after looking through it for few moments, he grasped me by the arm and pointed to the highest spot on the ledge. Taking tha instru- ment, soon saw my first live chanfOis. It was fine buck, and I could distinct ly see the black horns as they projected over the edge. as the little creature was lying on the very verge of the preci- pice, with its head partly hanging over, and my guide said that several more were probably in the rear.
 "The sight of the game refreshed us. and we commenced the ascent again, and after an hours hard climbing, found that there was absolutely no way of reaching the locality of the game except by going above, and be- ing lowered down to ledge just above them. This, in a moment of foOlhardi- ness, determined to do, and by mak- ing long detour and going up another thousand feet, we found ourselves up- on an irregular plateau, that we esti- mated must be directly over the ami mals, and not five hundred yards away.
 1.-The descent from here to the lower ledge that was above the chamois was precipitous in the extreme, and every step was made with the greatest care, the guide holding back on the rope as went ahead.
 I've were fearful that a stone would start and alarm the herd, but finally | we reached the spot, and looking over the edge-that was so tremendous an abyss that the trees in the valley be- low looked like small bushes-I saw that by being lowered down upon still | another ledge, I could, by leaning over, probably get a shot, if in the meantime the animals did not make off. | My guide carried coil of stout cord, and this I lashed firmly about my waist; then, bracing against the rocks that gave me the smallest foOthold, com meneed the descent, foot by foot and | inch by inch, hanging literally by a thread over the valley below. l was so excited by the prospect of getting the game that did not realize the danger, | and kept on cautiously until reached | the ledge. Then, bending my head | over in the slightest manner possi- ble, I saw the game. The buck was upon his feet, and near him were sever- al others. had just room to fire, | which I did literally hanging in the Ar, and joyfully saw my buck fall, and heard the clattering of numbers of | hoofs as the rest moved of.
 '1shouted to the gnide, and he low cred away; and I soon was by the ami mal, noble fellow over three feet in length. Untying my rope, l fastened it about him securely and gave the signal, and up he went; and a few moments later, the rope came back.
 1.-The face of the cliff was covered with small lodges, from four to six in- ches wide, that I used as footholds; and | up these treacherous stairs I started, being steadied by the guide, who haul ed from above.
 T had almost reached the middle ridge, when I happened to look up and saw the rope twirling and broken. It had begun to chafe, and before l could l